Indiana
Conflict Resolution Institute
Project: Shared Neutrals Program
The
Indiana Agency Shared Neutrals
One of the obstacles to the use of ADR in Indiana state agencies has been the cost of neutrals. Agencies have been reluctant to refer a case to mediation because they do not want to pay the costs of the mediation in addition to the potential costs of an administrative or judicial hearing. The Indiana Conflict Resolution Institute (ICRI) developed a pilot program for the sharing of certified mediators and meeting facilitators between agencies. This pilot program is modeled on the federal shared neutrals program where agency staff trained in conflict resolution techniques are assigned to mediate disputes in other agencies.
In January 2000, five state agencies signed a Memorandum of Understanding and committed to being part of the shared neutrals program. Among the Indiana state agencies collaborating in the pilot program are the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, the Office of Environmental Adjudication, the Natural Resources Commission, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, and the State Emergency Management Agency. Each agency has one or more trained mediators on staff and will offer these staff members as mediators for disputes in other agencies.
ICRI staff, with support from the Keller-Runden Chair for Public Service, provide support, evaluation and feedback as the shared neutrals pilot program continues. In the past year, the primary goal of this project has been to educate the local legal community about the program and build the number of case referrals. This year, the project will be exploring the use of a “facilitated settlement” option that would precede mediation.
Indiana Conflict Resolution
Institute
Last updated:
July 30, 2004
Comments:
ICRI Administrator
Copyright
1999 - Indiana University,
Bloomington